Ball-bearing slide.



Patented Feb. 25, |902.

C'. C. PROTHERDE. BALL BEARING SLIDE.

(Application led July 27, 1899.)

2 sheets-sheet l.

1 .1.. .ll ,I Tw- (No Medel.)

iq? E.

J. NTOR.

No. 694,028. Patented Feb- 25, |902.

C. C. PROTHEROE. f

BALL BEARING SLIDE.

(Application led July 27, 1899.)

qu@ Model.) 2 sheets-sheet 2.

JTNESSES.- v I NVE/WOR. .Mw-'W4 v fw- 'UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.,

CHARLES c. mori-Innen, oF RICHMOND HILL, NEW YORK. 4N. Y.

" BALL-ssaamc. Stanssrncrrrcacrron forming pm of Letters Patent No.694,028, eared Febru ary a5, 1902.

y Application iled July 27, 1899. Serial No. 725,277. (No model.)

To' all Iwhom it 'may concern,.- L Be it kn own that I, CHARLES O.PROTHEROE,

of Richmond Hill, borough of Queens, cityand State ot` New York, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Ball-Bearing Slides, of'whichthe following is aspecification. i

v Myinvention consists in a ball-bearing slide operating in twoplanestransversely the reciprocating member, said planes being at alltimes substantially parallel to and equidistant from each other, wherebytwo sets of balls lcating member at all times in coperate to control andconne the reciprol its reciprocatlon, as hereinafter described.

s v s Vr My invention consist-s, further, of means for centrally anduniformlyad j usting the posi-l tion of each set of balls transverselywith reference to the longitudinal axis of the recipf shaft.

rocating member, and, further, in the various other combinations' setforth in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 shows-a plan view of themechanism at midstroke of the reciprocation with two' of myball-bearings', one in combination with the withpitman and cranklarranged to turn a Figs. 2, 3, and 4 show possiblev positions ofthe-parts in the ball-bearing in three. other stages of the stroke. Thestops in the bearing and on the piston-rod are indicated by dottedlines. They are shown in detail in other figures. Fig. 5 shows in detaila side elevation yof my ball-bearing. Fig. 6 shows an end view of thesame, with one-half of the end stop of the guideways removed to sho-winternal construction.v Fig. 7 is a transverse section through the linecom, Fig. 1.. Figs and 9 are detail views showing the stops both 0n thereciprocating member and'in the guideways.., f4 f .y Similar charactersof.1eference indicate like' parts. 1-

A represents the bed-plate of .the engine,

l B the piston-rod, D thepitma'n, .E the crank,

C the shaft, andG the reciprocating rodA operating said'crank-and'pitman, all 'of the or.

dinary construction, the rods vbeing moved inL the directionofthearrows, Figs. 1,12, 3, and 4. Piston-rod B has secured to it'tleplate I. Formed in the plate I is the slot J, which is Y v orother fixedbase. piston-rd of the horizontalreciprocating engine and the other'incombination with the vreciprocating rod inclinedat an angle thereto,.ways a b. The holders F F' 3 Guideway a. has lalso face n,

of suitable transverse width to receive init I the pin K. The rod G isforked at its end,

Fig. 7, and provided with two bearings L and ous thaty when thepiston-rod B reciprocates 6 reciprocating motion Will be transmitted tothe rod G and that when rod G is reciprocated shaft C will be rotated bymeans of pitman D and crank connection E.

N is one of my ball-bearings confining the motion ofthe piston-rod B. Nis`another coniiniiig the motion of thereciprocating rod G.

yReferring now to Figs. 5 an-d 6, I provide two guideways a b, which maybe supported in v.any suitable way upon the. engine-bed A Theseguideways are reby inverted -U shaped each end'of the guidearewider-than the aggregate width of the said guideways and serve to holdthem firmly against the bedplate A, as shown. The holdersF F are securedto bed A by set-screws c or by any suith able means. The guidewa-ysa bare thus permitted a-motion toward and away from each other, -while atthe same time-firmly seated upon the bed A. Other suitable meansmay beemployed to seat the g'uideways which will permit-.of `the motiondescribed. The pistonrod B extends through the guideways a b, and itslongitudinal'a'xis is substantially parallelthereto. In. guideway a iscut 4the groove formed by the plane faces l and m. These'faces ex endthe entire length of the guideway a, an their longitudinal edges -aeparallel to the longitudinal edges thereof. In. the guideway b aresimilar faces p and q. and guideway b corresponding face o. The twoguideways also have corresponding similar faces r and s.

tained at each 'end holders F F', one at In the enlarged part oflpiston-rod B are cut similar faces l', m', n', o?, p', q', fr', and s',the longitudinal edges of which arev all parallel to the longitudinalaxis of piston B .and the bearing-points on faces Z t through the gearconnection screws 5' 4 Y the rotation of the against planes of which areparallel to the corresponding opposite plane faces in the guideways.'lhe two sets of balls 1, 2, 3, and 4 and 5, 6, 7, and 8 are placedbetween the faces, as shown in Fig. 5. Thus faces Z, Z', lm, and fmretain ball 1,als0 ball 5. Faces o o' n n' retain balls 2 and 6, p19 andq q' retain balls 3 and 7, and r 1" and s s retain balls 4 and 8. Bysuch construction each ball bears against four plane surfaces. Forinstance, ball 1 bears on surfacesZ m of the guideways andl Z m' of thepiston-rod, face Z is par allel to'face m', and face m is parallel toface Z'. The bearing-points on faces Z and m are the same distance. fromeach other as the and m', thus insuring the rolling of the balls betweenguideways and piston-rod when said rodis reciprocated.

h h' are right and left threaded screws retained by collars on the sidesof holder F, as shown, and geared together by bevel-gears '1l ft jj' andshaft 7c, suitably supported on one side of holder F. The shaft 7c isalso provided with a hand-Wheel t. Right and left threaded screwsh h'pass through guideways a b, respectively, which are threaded to receivethem. Similar adjustment by screws h" h with gears 11 t'"' and j" j'",shaft Za', and hand-wheel t' is provided for holder F' at the other endof the guideways a b, Fig. 5. It will be obvious that by turninghand-.wheel hh,act ing together, will cause the guideways a b toapproach or recede from each other, as desired, and that faces Z m,dac., will advance the balls 1, 2, 3,' and 4 radially toward thelongitudinal axis of pistou B. Faces Z and s in the guideways arepreferably disposed in the same plane, as are also faces m and n, o andp, q and 1, So, als, facesl and o' in the piston-rod are preferablydisposed in the same. plane, as are also m and 1*',01' and q', p' and s.The advance of the balls toward the longitudinal axis ofthe piston bythe mutual approach of the guideways at each end thereof, abovedescribed, will be uniform and will furnish ready adjustment for theball-bearing, while aiding to retain the accurate ad'- justment of thepiston-rod and also prevent piston-rod.

, In each groove of the piston-rod and in planes at right angles theretoare two series v.of stops 'v 'v' and u" fv", Fig. 5, one for each set ofballs. These stops are held in position by any suitable means, as byset-screws w, Fig. 8. In each groove of the guideways a b and in planesat right v'angles thereto are simi'- lar stops e' z' and z" a'", twoforeach set `of balls. These stops are also secured in their places, asshown, by any suitable means, as by set-screws the piston-rod passfreely without ecebetween stops e, &c., of the guides. It will beunderstood, therefore, that ball-l is held between parallel faces'Z mand m and Z', v

and as piston B reciprocates said ball is limited the piston-rod isshown in reciprocating 'and 4 and upon the y, Fig. 9. The stops fu, &c.,of`l interfer- `each forward and backward stroke. l

in its motion by stops ways, and it is also controlled in its motion bystops o, &c., of the piston-rod should it not be rolled by the pistonitself under action of the forces developed at any period of thelstroke. These stops o, &c., in the piston-rod and the stopsz, dsc., inthe grooves of the guideways are so placed relatively `to the stroke ofthe piston-rod that the set of balls l, 2, 3, and the entire length ofthe stroke, and should any of the balls not be rolled by the action ofthe piston, as before stated, these stops are so placed that all theballs will be assembled substantially in the same plane (at right`angles to the motion of the piston-rod) at each end of each stroke. Thesame arrangement is shown as tothe set of balls 5, 6, 7, and 8 and as totheir stops. This construction insures the rolling or sliding of theballs between the piston-rod and the guideways during each stroke andthat they shall be properly assembled at the end of each stroke.

Referring 'now to Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, the operationof the devia/e isas,v follows: In Fig. 1 the middle of its inward stroke, as indicated bythe arrow, and the crank 'gis shownat right angles to reciprocating rodGr. As the piston-rod approaches the end of -its i ward stroke stops 'v'fv'" will roll or slide any of the balls not acted on by the piston-rodto the left-hand end of their guides, where they meet the44 stops .a e",and.

in reverse as the piston-rod approaches the end'of its outward strokestops 'u 1),will roll a, &c:, in the guide- 4`are allowed to rollthroughout or slide any of the balls not acted upon by the piston-rod tothe right-hand end of their guides, where they meet the stops ya' 2"'.Underl the conditions explained lateral force upon the piston-rod B,influenced bythe operation of the mechanism shown-namely, the

reciprocating rod Gr` and roller -K in slot J i y will cause a pressureupon some of the balls ofset 5, 6, 7, tradispsed balls of the set 1,'2,3, and 4, and the accurate movement of the piston in reciprpcatingwllthereby result. Similar eect will be produced iff a case where thereciprocating motionof the piston-rod is converted directly into rotarymotion by crank and. pitman, as in the case of the ordinary horizontalreciprocating engine. So, also, similar effects are produced in theslide N' as confining the motionof rod G.

It will be obvious that stops fu' and v" of the piston-rod may be placedas to operate upon the balls 1., 2, 3,

balls, 6, 7, and 8', respectively. It will also 'be obvious that stops ze" of the guides may be made one stop and so placed as to prevent theescape of the balls l, 2', 3, and 4 in one directionand of the balls 5,67, and'S, respectively, inthe other direction, or these twost'ops inthe Vguid'eways may be omitted. I prefer their retention to compel theproper assembling of the balls at The sets and 8 and upon some of thecon' made one stop and so 'l of balls may be separated by a greater dis-1 tance along the longitudinal axis ofthe pislton B, inwhichcase-'suitablyeplaced stops V tboth in the piston G'shew stops u ul an end sto'p for one-half the grooves instead Instead ofenlargingthepiston-rod where or z'fl In that figure of the separate stops fz ion.the end of guidewayb this half-ring ahas '.-be'en removed to showinternal construction. Thisend stop u is -convenient in the ready iassembling of `the parts; but it is understood .that it is merely tosubstitute for the stops d, Fig. 9. Other forms of stops o, dre., z,drtay `be employed -to accom- 'plish the desire result. i

it passesthrough the guideways in construct ing the grooves formed vbyfaces Zm', ttc., these grooves may be cut in therod itself.

' The particular` advantagesof the device,

. 1 in addition to the reduction ofj-friction where 25,l mission ofpower and advantagesin construc-` `reciprocating motion is'employed inthe trans tion, is that it will tend 'to'relieve the cylin? der-head andthe,cylinder-itselfjfrom unequal lateral pressures and also that it.will lenable the conversion'ofreciprocating motion into reciprocatingmotionin a' diderent direc-.

`tion, as shown,-

wit-h a reduction' of l,.lfrictiou. I claim-'- i 41. The combination ofa 'member reciprocaltin'gina'straight line,' balls in Contact there-'.forrnly 'regulating th-e distance betweensaid balls and the path ofmotion of 's .aid member,

ywith, means supporting said balls in said con-y tact and means forsimultaneously andunisubstantially as described.`

" 2. The combination of a reciprocating mem- A ber, balls i-n contacttherewith, ways or guides `vborne by said memberI receiving said balls,

.ways or guides respectively ,supporting said. 'b i a s'insaid contact,and means'for simultaneously and uniformly adjusting said lastnamed waysor guides nearer to or farther #from said member, substantially asdescribed. y

3.. rlhe'combination of fing topositively move said balls in said bearf'ing over a a reciprocating member, aball-bearing therefor, meansactuated by said member and constructed and operatpath of definiteextent correspond# lingto vthat of the path of reciprocation of saidmember, and means for simultaneously and centrally adjusting the ballsAto said member, substantially as described.

r.' j 4.,. The combination of a reciprocating mem- -'-ber, ways orguides borne by said member, plane surfaces parallel to the path ofrecipro-'- cation of said member onfor contact with the balls, balls andin contact therewith, ways spectively supporting said balls received Lbyor guides .re-

or guides substantially parallel to the path of reci procation of saidmember for contact with said balls and means for of said bearing saidways orguides,v

-as described.

VV1i. The -combination of a member confined in said'coxif" tact, planesurfaces on said .last-named Ways'` j listing said last-named Ways'orguides ueal'er to or farther from said member, substantially asdescribed..

5. The combination of a reciprocating mem ber,A Ways or guides borne bysaid member," plane surfaces parallel to the path of reciprocation'ofsaid 'member on said ways or guides for contact with the' balls, ballsin contact therewit h,-ways or guides respectively supporting said ballsin said contact, plane surfaces on said'last-named ways or guides sul)-`stantiallyparallel to the path of reciprocaiolili of `said member forcontact with said a s, formly adjustingsaid last-named ways or guidesnearer to or farther from said member, substantially as described.

and means forsimult'aneonsly'and unisimultaneously ad l Sol 6. Thecombination omweg-nunmal reciprocating member, a. ball-bearing therefor,said the path lof reciprocationof said member, and two sets of ballsinterposed. between said guideways and', said member, and means forassembling-each ofsaid twol sets of balls in its-planerespectively'transversely to the path ofreciprocation of said member ateachend 95f of each, 'stroke thereof, siibstantially'as de-' scribed.

.7. The combination of alongitudinal-recip .bearing consisting' orguideways Parana to roc'ating member-,a ball-bearing supporting andguiding said memberat all .times at points l distant from leach otheralong the path of re `ciprocation thereof. and means for centrally anduniformly regulating the pressure be` tween the balls of said1 bearingand said mem-y ber, substantially as described.

, 8. The combination'ofa longitudinal reciprocating member, aball-bearing supporting` and guiding said meinber at all -times atpoints distant from each other along the path of re- 'ciproeaticnthereof and means for adjusting Athe balls of said bearingsimultaneously and'` uniformly toward or described.

9. lThe combination of a member confined and controlled by aball-,bearing to longitudiaway from' the longitudnal axis'of saidmember, substantially as a straight line, the said ball-bearing, and

nal reciprocating movement in substantially a straiglitline, the saidball-bearing, and `means for adjusting the balls of said bearingsimultaneously and uniformlyn toward or away from the longitudinal axisof said membei-for purposes of adjustment, substantially and-controlledby a ball-bearing to longitudi- -nal reciprocating movement insubstantially to the longitudinal axis ot said member andy adapted tomaintain the balls in contact therewith and two sets of balls interposedbemember, a ball-bearng therefor, said ballbearing consisting of two ormore sets of balls normally in contact with said member in planestransversely thereto, and g'uideways adaptedto maintain said balls incontact with y said member substantially at all times, and

, ciprocating member, a

' of said member at each end between rocating member, substantially asdescribed'.

sembling each set means for moving the guideways 0E the ballssimultaneously and uniformly toward or away from the longitudinalaxis ofthere'ciprocating member, substantially as and for the purposesdescribed. Y

13. The combination of a reciprocating member, stops in s aid memberadapted to maintain eachvset of balls at all times out of contazt withthe other set of balls, guideways parallel to the motion of tereciprocation of said .member and adapte tohold two sets of balls incontact therewith, two sets of balls interposed between said-guidewaysand said reciprocating member,' and means for centrally and uniformlyregulating thepressure the balls of each set and said recip- 14. Thecombination of a longitudinal re-A ball-bearing therefor, said vbearingconsisting of .guideways parallel to the longitudinal'axisof' said`member and adapted to maintain the balls in contact therewithland twoor more sets of balls interposed between said guideways and said member,means for regulating the pressure between said balls and said member andmeans for asvoi? balls respectively in its the'longitudinal axis of eachstroke thereof, substantial] y as and for the purposes described. l

15. The combination of a. longitudinal rea ciprocating member, aball-bearing therefor, said bearing consistingpf guidewaysparallel tothe longitudinal axis of said membery and adapted to maintain the ballsin contact with said member, Iand two sets of balls interposed betweensaid guideways and said member, means for centrally and uniformlyregulating the pressure between said balls and'said plane transverselyto `Band member and means for preventing the escape' of the balls atboth `ends of the guideways, substantially as described.

l 16. The combination of a reciprocating member, stops insaid member tocompel the assembling of the balls, two guideways each "parallel tothemotion ot reciprocation of said y l member and adapted to holdtwo setsof balls in contact with said member, and `each provided with stops tolimit the rolling of the balls, two sets of balls interposed betweensaid guideways and said 'reciprocating member and means for moving theguideways of the balls simultaneously and uniformly toward or away fromthe longitudinal axis of` the reciprocatingl member, substantially asand'for the purpose described.

17. The. combination of reciprocating piston-rod B, having groovesformed thereon by planes Z', "m, fn', o', p', q', r and s', balls l, 2,

4,'balls 5, 6, 7 and having grooves formed therein by planes l, m, fn,o, p, q, r and s, holders F, F', right-andleft screws h, h', h", h",gears t', fi', t, i'", j, j",j",j.", shaftslc, lo and hand-wheels t, t',all constructed and operating substantially as and for the purposesdescribed.

8, guideways a, b,

Vl'a. The combination of the reciprocating rod B, having grooves formedtherein by planes Z; m', n', o', p', q', r', and s', stops v, fu', o,uf', balls 1, 2, 3 and et, and 8, guideways aI and b, having groovesformed therein by planes Z, m, 01,0, 19,11, r, ands, stops z, z', z,z",holders F, F', rightand-left screws h, h, h", gears t, 1)', t' 1, allconstructed and operating, substantially as described.

' 19. The combination of reciprocating pis-h ton-rod B, having groovesformed therein by planes Z', m', n', 0,p', q,r and s',.balls 1, 2, 3 and4, and balls 5, 6, 7 and 8, guidewaysa and b, having grooves formedtherein by planes l, m, n, o, p, q, r and s, stops u, u', at each end ofguideways a, and b, holders F, F', and means for moving guideways a, b,ofthe balls simultaneously and uniformly toward the longitudinal axis ofrod B, substantially as and for the purposes described.

Witnesses: G. H. PATCHEN,

- IRVING S. OARMER.

and hand-wheels t, t',

bans 5,.;6, 7,' a5

Il 'lll rco

